Combined lamp and radio receiving set



Dec. 24, 1940. D. J. CROWLEY 2,225,823

COMBINED LAMP AND RADIO RECEIVING SET Filed June 20, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I an INVENTOR. DANIEL J.CROWLEY 53/23 an zs 97 as I 7// WE W RNE S ATTO Dec. 24,1940. D. J. CROWLEY COMBINED LAMP AND RADIO RECEIVING SET Filed June 20, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

DANlEL J. CROWLEY BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1940. n. J. CROWLEY COMBINED LAMP AND RADIO RECEIVING SET Filed June 20, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 II" II INVENTOR.

DANIEL J.CROWLEY BY WW? ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Daniel J. Crowley, Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Application June 20, 1938, Serial No. 214,760

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to radio receiving apparatus and refers more particularly to improvements in station selectors for radio receiving sets; It is one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a radio receiving set with an improved station selector composed of a relatively few simple parts capable of being inexpensively manufactured and readily assembled with the several instrumentalities of the radio circuit in a compact space.

Another advantageous feature of the present invention consists in the provision of a. station selector embodying means for tactually indicating predetermined increments of adjustment of the variable condensers embodied in the radio receiving circuit and having means under the control of the operator for rendering the tactual indicating means inoperative.

Still another object of this invention consists in the provision of radio receiving equipment of the type set forth above, wherein the several instrumentalities of the equipment are compactly distributed in certain parts of an article of furniture, such as a lamp having a base and a shade supported from the base by a pedestal.

A further object of this invention resides in the novel control means for the adjustable instrumentalities of the radio receiving set and station selector. In accordance with this invention, the control means is in the form of a compact unit embodying speed reducing mechanism and capable of being supported on either the pedestal or base of the lamp referred to above.

In addition to the foregoing, this invention contemplates novel means for operatively connecting the several adjustable instrumentalities of the radio receiving circuit to certain of the controls for actuation by the latter. This feature, as well as the foregoing and other objects, will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a com bined lamp and radio receiving set constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view takensubstantially on the plane indicated by the line 6-45 of Figure 3; i

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line l-| of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a sectional view'taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 8-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 9 -9 of Figure 'l;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line |t-m of Figure 3; i i

Figures 11 to 14, inclusive, are detailed perspective views illustrating parts of the station a 20 selector mechanism;

Figure 15 is a sectional view illustrating a slightly modified form of construction;

Figure 16 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line I 6- I6 of Figure 15; and

Figure 17 is a diagram of a radio receiving circuit.

For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, I have shown my improved radio receiving set and station selector as embodied in the several parts of a lamp, although it will be apparent as this description proceeds that the invention is by no means limited to this specific application.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 14, inclusive,1 have shown a floor lamp of artistic design having a base assembly 20 and a shade assembly 2| supported from the base by means of a pedestal 22. In the present instance, a number of the instrumentalities in: the radio receiving circuit are compactly distributed in the base 20 and the cooperating parts of thecircuit are grouped in the shade assembly 2 I. The several parts of the radio receiving set in the base assembly 20 are electrically connected to the parts of the circuit in the shade 2| by means of electrical conductors (not shownlbut which may be extended through the pedestal 22. Although the electrical connections are not specifically shown in the drawings, it will, of course, be understood that the conductors must be properly shielded in accordance with conventional radio practice to insure eficient performance of the radio receiving set.

It will also be understood as this description proceeds that the specific parts of the radio receiving set housed by the base and shade assemblies of the lamp may vary to suit existing conditions. However, for the purpose of illustration, I have selected the following distribution of the parts and I have found that this particular distribution renders it possible to effectively house all of the parts of the radio receiving circuit in the various assemblies of the lamp without increasing the proportions of these assemblies to such an extent as to detract from the general appearance of the lamp. In Figure 17 of the drawings, I have shown diagrammatically one type of superheterodyne circuit that may be advantageously employed to secure the desired results. Upon reference to Figure 17, it will be noted that the parts of the radio receiving circuit contained in the area designated by the reference character A are housed in the base assembly 20 of the lamp and the parts of the circuit contained in the area designated by the reference character B are housed in the shade assembly of the lamp. It will e noted from the above that the speaker unit 23 and tone control rheostat 24- are housed in the shade assembly 2| of the lamp, while all of the remaining instrumentalities of the circuit are grouped in the base assembly 20.

The parts of the radio circuit confined by the area A in Figure 17 are all preferably supported in the base 20 on the spokes 25 of a spider 26 having a central hub 21 suitably secured to the base plate 28 by means of fastener elements 29. Upon reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the parts of the radio circuit confined in the area A in Figure 17 are protected by a shield 38 fastened to the outer ends of the spokes 25 by means of the fastener elements 3|. The arrangement is such that the shield 38, spider 26, and associated parts of the radio receiving set form a unit which is capable of being assembled into and removed from the base. By virtue of the shield 30, the parts of the radio circuit, carried by the spider, may be accurately balanced before installing the same in the base assembly 20 and the adjustable parts will not be noticeably affected by the metal covrotor plates 35.

ering 32 provided to impart a finished appearance to the base.

Among the radio receiving parts carried by the spider 26 are three variable condensers, designated generally in Figures 2 and 4 by the reference character 33. In accordance with conventional practice, each of the variable condensers comprises the usual stator plates 34 fixed in any suitable manner relative to the spider 26 and the The two sets of plates associated with each condenser are disposed in parallel horizontal planes and the rotor plates are mounted upon a rockshaft 36 in a manner to cooperate with the plates 34 on the stator to vary the capacitance of the circuit and permit tuning the radio'set to any one of the radio stations broadcasting on the selected wave band.

Upon reference to Figures 2 and 4, it will be noted that the rotor plates 35 of each of the condensers are simultaneously rotated relative to the stator plates 34 by means of a central driving gear 31 supported for rotation about the axis of the hub 21 on the spider 26 and meshing with suitable pinions 38 respectively secured to the upper end of each of the rockshafts' 36. It follows from the above that rotation of the central driving gear 31 effects a corresponding adjustment of each of the variable condensers.

Rotation of the driving gear 31 to effect simultaneous adjustment of the several variable condensers is accomplished by means of a tuning unit 39 supported on the pedestal 22 at a point between the base and shade assemblies Where it may be conveniently manipulated by the operator. Upon reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the tuning unit 39 comprises a finger engaging control 40 in the form of a ring mounted for rotation about the axis of the pedestal and operatively connected to a tubular shaft 4| through the medium of reduction gearing 42. The shaft 4| extends axially downwardly through the pedestal 22 and the lower end thereof is operatively connected to the driving gear 31 through the medium of a spider 43. As shown in Figure 3, a wave band indicating dial 44 is secured to the underside of the ring 49 for rotation as a unit therewith and is visible from the position exteriorly of the tuning unit through a slot 45 formed in the annular side wall of the lower section of the control unit casing 48. The ratio of the reduction gearing 42 and the gearing between the lower end of the operating shaft 4| and rotors of the variable condensers is predetermined so that the control ring 40 rotates slightly less than one complete revolution to effect the required angular travel of the rotor condenser plates 35. Inasmuch as the wave band indicator 44 is secured to the ring 40, it follows that a substantial spread of the stations on the wave band is rendered possible.

Referring now more in detail to Figure 3, it will be noted that the reduction gearing 42 is provided with a bevelled gear 45 secured to the underside of the control ring 40 for rotation about the axis of the pedestal 22 on the cylindrical surface of the hub 41. The bevelled gear 46 meshes with a bevelled pinion 48 mounted on a carrier 49 and adapted to mesh with a fixed bevelled gear 50 secured in any suitable manner to the hub 41. In the present instance, a pair of pinions 48 are mounted on the carrier 49 in diametrically opposite relation, and these pinions are guided around the axis of the pedestal 23 by means of rollers 5| engageable with the adjacent sides of the bevelled gears 46' and 50. Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings, it will be noted that in the specific construction disclosed, the pinions 48 are mounted upon the outer ends of shafts 52 extending radially outwardly from the carrier 49 through circumferentially extending slots 53 formed in the hub 41. The carrier 49 is, of course, fixed to the upper end of the shaft 4| in order to impart a rotative movement of the latter upon actuating the control ring 40.

In accordance with the present invention, the control unit 39 also includes a second indicating band 54 supported in vertical spaced relation to the band 44 for rotation about the axis of the pedestal 22. The band 54 is capable of being observed through a slot 55 through the upper section of the housing 46 and is rotated at the same speed as the band 44 by the control ring 40. As shown in Figure 3, the band 54 is mounted on the periphery of a disc 56 having a hub 51 rotatably supported on the hub 41 of the control unit and having teeth 58 adapted to mesh with a pinion 59 secured to the upper end of a vertical stub shaft 60. The shaft 60 is mounted for rotation within the hub 41 and the side wall of the latter is slotted to permit the pinion 59 to extend therethrough into mesh with the teeth 58. The pinion 62 of the same size as the pinion 59 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 60 and extends through an opening in the side wall of the hub 41 into mesh with suitable teeth 63 formed on the (ill inner surface of the control ring 40. It follows from the above construction that the indicating band 54 is rotated by the control ring 40 at the same speed as the indicating band 44. The wave band 44 is calibrated in kilocycles in accordance with conventional practice and the wave band 54 preferably illustrates the call letters of a selected number of stations.

The call letters on the band 54 are predeterminedly spaced with reference to the kilocycle graduations onthe band 44 so that when the control ring 40 is adjusted to indicate the number of kilocycles assigned to one of the selected stations identified on the band 54, the latter station will appear opposite the opening 55. In other words, when the control ring 40 is rotated through the extent required to illustrate the call letters of the desired station through the opening 55, the variable condensers are adjusted to the wave length of this particular station and, as a consequence, tuning of the radio receiving set is greatly simplified.

In order to further simplify the tuning of the radio receiving set, provision is made herein for imparting a tactual signal to the operator when the condensers have been properly adjusted to the wave length of the particular station selected. This is accomplished, in the present instance, by the cooperativeeffect of a spring pressed plunger 65 and a sectional segment 66. 'In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 14, inclusive, the spring pressed plunger 65 is rotatable as a unit with the'condenser driving gear 31 and the segment 66 is fixed relative to the plunger. The plunger 65 is shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 4 as comprising a rod 61 supported for radial sliding movement in a bracket 68 fixedly secured in any suitable manner to the gear 31. A roller 69 is rotatably supported at the outer end of the rod for engagement with the segment 66 and is urged into engagement with the segment by means of a spring 10 surrounding the rod with the inner end abutting the bracket 68' and with the outer end engaging a collar H fixed to the rod. As a result, the roller 69 moves as a unit with the condenser driving gear 31 over the inner arcuate surface of the segment 66.

Upon reference to Figures 4, '7 8, and 9, it will be noted that the segment '66 comprises an arcuate track 12 and a plurality of inserts 13 having arcuate portions 14 cooperating with each other to present a continuous bearing surface for engagement with the roller 69. The track 12 is secured at circumferentially spaced points to the base assembly 20 by means of fastener elements 15 and is provided with a T-shaped slot 16 therein. The slot 16 extends for substantially the full arcuate extent of the track and the vertical portion 11 is adapted to receive suitable depending lugs 18 formed on each of the ears 19 of the inserts 13 to prevent rocking movement of the inserts relative to the track. The horizontal portion 89 of the T-shaped slot is adapted to slidably receive an enlarged head Bl on the lower end of each of the bolts 82 and the shank portions of the bolts project upwardly through the vertical portions 11 of the slot. The number of bolts 82 corresponds to the number of inserts l3 and the upper end of each bolt projects through an ear 19 of one of the inserts for engagement with a suitable clamping nut 83. It follows from the foregoing that each of the inserts is independently adjustable along the track 12 and may be secured to the shaft 99.

secured in the relative positions of adjustment by the clamping nuts 83.

Referring now more in detail to Figures 11 to 14, inclusive, it will be noted thatalternate inserts are fashioned in the manner shown in Figures 11 and 12 so that the extremities of the portions 14 thereof overlap the adjacent ends of the inserts shown in Figures 13 and 14. Upon reference to Figure 2, it will be noted that the axial extent of the roller 69 is greaterthan twice the thickness of the portions 14 of the inserts so as to engage the inneredges of the portions 14 of each insert upon rotation of the-driving gear 31 throughout its range of angular adjustment. The inner edges of a selected number of inserts are formed with recesses 85 therein of sufficient dimension to receive a portion of the roller 69 when the latter is in registration therewith and the inserts are so adjusted that movement of the roller in any one of the recesses 85 corresponds to a particular adjustment of the variable condensers. In actual practice, the inserts 13 are so adjusted with respect to each other that when the call letters on the band 54 are successively moved into registration with opening 55, the roller 69 successively engages 'in the recesses 85. Due to the action of the spring 19, the roller 69 actually snaps into engagement with the recesses 85, and this action imparts a tactual signal to the operator manipulating the control disc 40.

In the present instance, provision is made for rendering the tactual signal means inoperative under the control of the operator and this is accomplished by merely moving the roller 69 inwardly a sufficient distance to be free from en-= gagement with the inserts 13. Upon referenoeto Figure v2, it will be noted that the rear end of the rod '61 is provided with axially spaced shoulders 86 engageable with the forked end 81 of a bell crank lever 88 supported for pivotal movementon the bracket 68. The opposite arm 89 of the bell crank lever is forked to receive a vertical shaft 90 having collars 9i secured thereto on opposite sides of the forked end of the arm 89.

The construction is such that downward move-- ment of the shaft 96 rocks the bell crank lever 88 in a direction to move the roller 69 out of engagement with the segment 66. On the other hand, upward movement of the shaft 99 causes the lowermost collar 9| to engage the arm 89 of the bell crank lever 88 to swing the latter in a direction to permit the roller to re-engage the 10, it will be noted that the cam 92 is providedwith an inclined surface 94 adapted to engage the outer end of a finger 95 having the inner end projecting through a slot 96 in the hub 41 and The construction is such that rotation of the ring in one direction about the axis of the pedestal 22 causes the cam surface 94 to shift the shaft 90 downwardly relative to the pedestal 22. As stated above, movement of the shaft 99 in a downward direction causes the uppermost collar 9| in Figure 2 to rock the bell crank lever 88 in a direction to withdraw the roller t9 away from the segment 56. This movement of the roller 59 is effected against the action of the spring 10 so that movement of the ring 93 in the opposite direction to disengage the cam surface 04 from the finger 95 permits the spring 10 to return the shaft 90 to its initial posi tion and to move the roller 69 into engagement with the segment 66.

5 In the present instance, the shaft 90 also operates the combined volume control rheostat and off and on switch 91. This switch is shown in Figure 2 as located within the hub 21 of the spider'ZB and as having a slot 98 in the upper end of the operating shaft 99 for slidably receiving the lower end of the shaft 90. The lower end of the shaft 90 is provided with lateral projections I to provide a driving engagement between the two shafts so that rotation of the shaft 90 will effect a corresponding rotation of the shaft 99. It will, of course, be understood that the extent of sliding movement of the shaft 90 relative to the shaft 99 is sufficient to permit the operation of the plunger 85 by the shaft 90.

Upon reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the shaft 90 is rotated to operate the combined rheostat and off and on switch 91 by means of a control ring IOI rotatably mounted on the hub 41 above the ring 93. The ring MI is shown as having internal teeth I02 adapted to mesh with a pinion I03 rotatably supported in the hub 41 and extending through a slot I04 formed in the side wall of the hub. The pinion also meshes with a gear I05 secured to the upper end of the shaft 90 and having a length sufficient to maintain intermeshing relationship with the pinion I03 throughout the shifting movement of the shaft 90 required to operate the plunger 65.

The tone control rheostat 24 may also be operated from a point adjacent the control unit 39 and, for accomplishing this result, I provide a tube I I0 rotatably mounted on the upper end of the pedestal 22 and secured at the upper end thereof to a cup-shape fixture III. The cupshaped fixture II I is provided with internal teeth II2 adapted to mesh with a pinion II3 secured to the revoluble shaft II4 for the rheostat 24. As shown in Figure 2, the tone control rheostat 24 is located in a housing I I5 and this hous- 5 ing is slotted to permit the pinion I I3tomeshwith the teeth II2 on the fixture III. The housing H5 is shown in Figure 2 as located in the shade assembly 2I and is formed with an extension H8 at the upper end thereof forming a support for 50 the shade I I9. The speaker cone I20 is also suitably supported on the extension I I8 in a manner such that the top wall I2 I- of the shade forms a bafiie for the sound emittin from the speaker cone. The power transformer I22 and the mag- 55 netic speaker unit I23 are supported in any suitable manner (not shown) in the housing II5 which also forms a support for the conventional illuminating means I25. The audio and rectifier tubes I26 and I21, respectively, may be mounted 60 in the extension I IS in a manner to form a compact unit with the remaining parts of the speaker I01.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 15 and 16, I have shown the manner in which my improved radio receiving set may be incorporated in a table lamp. The principal difference between this embodiment and the one previously described is that the control unit 39 is mounted on the base assembly 20' of the lamp, and the segment 06' is rotatable with the central condenser driving gear 31' relative to the spring pressed plunger 65'. Also, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 15 and 16, the spring pressed plunger 65 is rendered inoperative independently of the vertical shaft for actuating the combined volume control and off and on switch 91'.

In the construction shown in Figures 15 and 16, the spring pressed plunger 65' is moved in a direction to disengage the roller 69' from the segment 66 by means of a lever I30 extending through a slot I3I formed in one side wall of the base 20. The inner end of the lever is secured to a rockshaft I32 having the lower end journalled in a bearing I33 secured to the base plate I34 and having the upper end journalled in a bearing I35 formed on the plunger bracket 68'. A finger I36 is secured to the upper end of the shaft I32 and the outer end of the finger is forked to engage the plunger 65' at the inner side of an enlargement I31 on the outer end of the plunger. The construction is such that swinging movement of the lever I30 in the direction of the arrow I39 in Figure 16 rocks the shaft I32 in a direction to cause the finger I35 to move the plunger against the action of the spring 10 and disengage the roller 69' from the segment 66'. In this connection, it may be pointed out that when the lever I30 has been moved from the roller 69' out of engagement with the segment 66', a detent I40 on the lever I30 engages in a recess formed in a block I4I secured to the base plate I34. The arrangement is such that the lever I30 is frictionally held in a position wherein the roller 69' is free from engagement with the segment 66' until the operator actually manipulates the lever I30 to return the latter to its operative position shown in Figure 16. With the above exceptions, the construction and operation of this embodiment of the invention are the same as the one described in connection with Figures 1 to 14, inelusive.

Thus, from the foregoing, it will be observed that I have provided a relatively simple compact radio set capable of being installed in an article of furniture, such as a lamp, while at the same time maintaining the dimensions of the lamp or article of furniture within the range required to impart a pleasing appearance to the article.

It will also be noted that I have provided a relatively simple station selector for radio receiving apparatus capable of adjustment to provide for obtaining various different stations throughout the range of the set. It will further be seen that my improved station selector embodies means for visually indicating and for tactually indicating to the operator when the set has been tuned to the desired wave length.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In radio receiving apparatus, the combination with a base and a pedestal extending upwardly from the base, a plurality of variable condensers symmetrically arranged in the base around the axis of the pedestal and each condenser having a rotatable part, a pinion secured to each rotatable part, a central driving gear rotatably mounted on the axis of the pedestal and meshing with the pinions for simultaneously rotating the parts aforesaid of the condensers, a control mounted on the pedestal above the base for engagement by the operator and rotatable about the axis of the pedestal for actuating the center gear, and means operated by the control for periodically resisting rotation of the condenser parts to indicate predetermined increments of adjustment of said parts.

2. In radio receiving apparatus, the combination with a base and a pedestal extending upwardly from the base, of a plurality of variable condensers symmetrically arranged in the base around the axis of the pedestal and each condenser having a rotatable part, a pinion secured to each rotatable part, a central driving gear rotatably mounted on the axis of the pedestal meshing with the pinions for simultaneously rotating the parts aforesaid of the condensers, a control element supported on the pedestal at a point remote from the base and revoluble about the axis of the pedestal, means extending through the pedestal operatively connecting the control element to the driving gear for actuating the latter, and means responsive to the operation of the control element to periodically resist rotation of the condenser parts and indicate predetermined increments of adjustment of said parts.

3. In radio receiving apparatus, the combination with a base and a pedestal extending upwardly from the base, of a plurality of variable condensers symmetrically arranged in the base around the axis of the pedestal and each condenser having a rotatable part, a pinion secured to each rotatable part, a central driving gear rotatably mounted on the axis of the pedestal meshing with the pinions for simultaneously rotating the parts aforesaid of the condensers, a control element supported on the pedestal at a point remote from the base and revoluble about the axis of the pedestal, means extending through the pedestal operatively connecting the control element to the driving gear for actuating the latter, means housed by the base and responsive to the operation of the control element for periodically resisting rotation of the condenser parts and thereby indicate predetermined increments of adjustment of the condenser parts, and means supported on the pedestal adjacent the control element for rendering said last named means inoperative.

4. In radio receiving apparatus, the combination with a base and a pedestal extending up wardly from the base, a plurality of variable condensers symmetrically arranged in the base around the axis of the pedestal and each condenser having a revoluble part, a pinion secured to each revoluble part, a central driving gear rotatably mounted on the axis of the pedestal and meshing with the pinions for simultaneously 1'0- tating the parts aforesaid of the condenser, a

control element mounted on the pedestal at a point remote from the base for rotation about the axis of the pedestal, a hollow revoluble shaft extending through the pedestal having the lower end connected to the central driving gear and having the upper end connected to the control element, means housed in the base and responsive to the'operation of the control element for indicating predetermined increments of adjustment of the condenser parts, a second control mounted on the pedestal adjacent the control element aforesaid, and means extending through the hollow shaft with one end connected to the indicating means and with the opposite end connected to the second control in a manner to render said indicating means inoperative upon manipulation of the second control.

DANIEL J. CROWLEY. 

